Dozens of more post boxes have been returned to their national shade of green in the past week with the republican youth movement Ógra Shinn Féin claiming they are, "harmonising post boxes across Ireland, providing a public service by saving An Phoist a lot of work and money as we approach Irish unity."
Only last week Tyrone Ógra reported that they had begun a fresh drive to 'green' the post boxes of the historic republican county, grabbing the headlines in the local media.
The campaign has picked up further momentum with more and more Tyronians waking up to the welcome sight of a green post box.
(Loughmacrory, Co. Tyrone) A Tyrone Ógra spokeperson said,
"Ógra Shinn Féin has been extremely active in various campaigns including suicide prevention, drug and alcohol awareness, road safety, pushing for free education, and we have re-initiated the green post box campaign to awaken national consciousness, and pave the way for an Irish Republic that stays true to the 1916 proclamation."
"We believe that this simple yet effective action, which is widely endorsed in the villages, towns and estates were it is done, helps state very clearly that we live in Ireland and helps to spark debate on Irish unity."
(Gortin Main Street, Co. Tyrone)
(Greencastle Crossroads, Co. Tyrone)
(Crocknaboy Road, Greencastle, Co. Tyrone)
(Mountfield, Co. Tyrone)
7 comments:
While I many admire many of the projects OSF undertake and support I can't help but think that painting the post boxes is a little childish and realistically achieves nothing other than division in the community.
The green post box campaign is simply asserting national rights in nationalist and republican areas. We are Irish people showing very clearly that we live in Ireland. What is childish and divisive about being Irish or having a green post box in areas were 99% of the population consider themselves Irish? Joe
The stark reality is that Northern Ireland as it stands at the moment is in the UK, Royal Mail are therefore the post operator and as is their company policy the post boxes are red. No one has a right therefore to vandalise the property of Royal Mail in this way. As an Irish person, I may not like this fact or agree that it should be the way. However, painting the post boxes green does nothing to change this fact, it does however antagonise other sections of the community. If we are to build an Ireland of equals then this isn't the way to do it.
I seriously doubt whether you are genuine poster anonymous, if you are, you should leave your name and email. You claim to consider yourself Irish, almost republican in your rhetoric about 'Ireland of Equals' yet refer to the north as 'northern ireland'.
Regardless, the campaign is carried out in nationalist and republican areas where the overwhelming majority of people prefer their post boxes green. It is only divisive to the bigots who want to chastise young republicans and young Irish people for daring to be proud of their Irishness.
I consider myself a proud Irish person who lives in Ireland, get of your knees anonymous. Joe
Joe, you live on the island of Ireland, the Good Friday agreement which was supported by Sinn Fein, of which I assume you are a member of the youth wing, enshrined the fact that Northern Ireland exists and is a part of the UK until a majority of the people here decide otherwise. Calling NI the north or any other name doesn't change that fact.
I doubt that the majority of nationalists give any thought to the colour of the post box when the letters they receive and send have stamps with the Queen on them. Are you going to bring out your own range of stamps?
Plenty of people are proud of their Irishness and they express it through music and language, through the GAA and not through wasting time on vandalism.
I'm certainly not on my knees, I walk tall with the knowledge that I don't live in La La land where you seem to reside. Ignoring partition won't help end it, saying you live in Ireland doesn't achieve unity nor does painting the post boxes.
Sad to say I'm not not living in Ireland, BUT: I love them boxes painted green :) Indeed I'm considering how to use that great idea for human rights activities worldwide ...
Aoife
Wrong green ffs , do it right ask AnPost for the paint. .)
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